By Jessica Knight, dietetic intern

Maximize Your Food Budget with Planet-Healthy Food Waste Solutions

In our previous post, we discussed food insecurity and offered solutions. One topic we reviewed that applies to everyone regardless of socioeconomic status or food security is food waste. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to waste during your day-to-day life, but the reality is that an average of $370 per person is wasted in households each year. Effective food waste management could add almost $1,500 to the annual budget for a family of four.

There are a few simple steps you can take to reduce household food waste:

Know what you have. Keeping track of the food in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer is key. Pay attention to expiration dates, ensure you aren’t purchasing something again that you already have, and avoid stockpiling items that might expire before you can use them.
Plan your shopping trips. Take inventory before you shop and plan meals that make the most of what you have. Make a list and stick to it! Fun fact: shopping when you’re hungry can increase your likelihood of buying unnecessary items, so have a snack before you go.
Store your food properly. Store food at the appropriate temperature to avoid spoilage and bacterial growth. If a food item is about to expire, include it in your next meal or preserve it. The Missouri University Extension offers informative food preservation resources and classes including canning, freezing, and drying.
Use more of what you buy. Learn to use parts of food that would usually be thrown away. Taking cooking classes can increase your skills, and some community centers offer them for free. Try this easy Refrigerator Soup recipe to use up produce that is past its prime.

On a larger scale, an estimated 30-40% of edible, nutrient-dense food produced and imported in the US is wasted every year, and half of that happens before the food is even purchased from the store. Extra food, termed surplus, is thrown away by farmers, manufacturers, retailers, and households, eventually amounting to 80 billion pounds of yearly food waste produced in the US. This is a frustrating statistic, considering 44 million people experience hunger. The good news is that there are organizations, businesses, and legislators working to fix these gaps in the supply chain.

Contrary to popular belief, food surplus is safe! It is not garbage, it has not spoiled, and it is perfectly edible. For this reason, groups like Food Rescue US work to “rescue” surplus from farmers and retailers and bring it to food banks and distribution organizations. Food Rescue STL is our local St. Louis surplus rescue organization, partnering with businesses such as Costco, Whole Foods, and Einstein Bros Bagels.

There are ways to get involved with the food rescue movement as a recipient of surplus or as a volunteer. If you need another way to access food, you can download apps like Too Good To Go and Olio that allow retailers in your area to post food surplus that is available for pickup. Ask around in your community – are there restaurants, growers, or retailers who donate food surplus? If not, would they be willing to do so? If you would like to give back, volunteering at food banks and local food rescue organizations are a great way to make a positive impact.

If you are experiencing food insecurity, let your dietitian know. We can help you develop a plan to increase food access and locate resources.o of this series where we discuss strategies for managing household food waste!